First week of school goes smoothly

With road construction on Main Street, there are fewer safe routes for students to get to and from school. Three bus stops have been established until construction is complete. About 20 students boarded the bus one morning last week at the southeast stop.

Teachers, students, and staff have their first week of school under their belts with routines beginning to fall into place.

Spring Grove School Superintendent Rachel Udstuen commented that transportation of students to and from school has been going very smoothly despite the road construction. Bus stops in three areas of town - northwest, northeast, and southeast - have been well-utilized making traffic congestion at the school minimal. A cordoned off walk-way across Main Street has also been created by the construction crews so that students and staff are able to safely make it to the building. Sixth grade students have received their Safety Patrol training and are helping people across the intersections at the northeast corner of the school.

Last week the Herald introduced its readers to some of the new teachers and staff at Spring Grove Public School this year. Following are introductions to the rest of the new teachers.

Degree: Bachelor of science from Winona State University in elementary education K-6 with pre-primary, master of science from Walden University

with a major in elementary reading and literacy.

Teaching background: Kimberly Area School District, Wisconsin, one year as a long-term substitute and one year teaching fourth grade; Douglas County Schools, Colorado, seven years teaching fourth and fifth grades; Cherry Creek Schools, Colorado, one year teaching third grade.

Hometown: Germantown, Wis.; just moved back to the Midwest after an eight-year stint in Portland, Ore.

Currently resides in: Canton (township) with his spouse and a surly 9-month-old pup.

Family: Have extended family in the Milwaukee and south Twin Cities metro areas.

Degree: Bachelor of arts in English from UW- Eau Claire, master's of education from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and master of theatre studies from Southern Oregon University.

Teaching background: Alternative education in the Burnsville School District, middle and high school for 11 years in Mendota Heights and Shakopee, Minn., and Aurora, Ore.; have taught a wide range of English courses and electives and done a lot of work as a director and scene designer.

Comment(s) about the upcoming school year: "I am very impressed with the Spring Grove staff and programs. I am looking forward to meeting the students and am incredibly excited about the fall school musical, Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast.' We will be looking for community members to join our pit orchestra. I'm also looking forward to teaching an elective in set construction. Watch for ways we can help you get rid of your clutter! We will be looking for things like wood, paint and fabrics. I love Spring Grove's passion for theatre. I am glad to be back in the Midwest."

Name: Deb Sullivan

Subject teaching: Second grade.

Hometown: Cottage Grove, Minn.

Currently resides in: Norwalk, Wis., but moving to La Crescent by the end of September.